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Life in prison for man who gunned down former cook at Roosevelt Tavern

By LIZ EVANS SCOLFORO

505-5429/@ydcrimetime

Posted:
03/24/2014 04:38:33 PM EDT

Updated:
03/25/2014 08:52:19 AM EDT

Murder victim Edward Green

Edward Leon Green had no interest in the streets or the thug lifestyle.

Instead, he emulated his own father by working hard and being a loving presence in the lives of his two sons, according to his father and stepmother, Leon and Jacqueline Green of Harrisburg.

"He was the joy of my life," his stepmother said. "I'm thankful I can look back on my son and say he wasn't a thug."

But the streets eventually caught up with him anyway.

Bad patch: "He hit a bad patch in life," Jacqueline Green said, and because of his pride he put himself in a position that cost him his life.

Edward Green, 46, was fatally shot about 1:10 a.m. Nov. 6, 2012, as he was being carjacked near the intersection of Hope Avenue and Green Street in York City.

McCowin

He worked for the Roosevelt Tavern for about 20 years, working his way up to line cook, and dreamed of opening his own restaurant. He started helping his stepmother cook when he was about 10, and eventually became a better cook than she is, she said.

At the time of his death, he was dealing with a setback in life and was staying with friends in the area and sleeping in his car.

The murder: Shamar A. McCowin and Malcolm Mansour Bull were walking in the area of the 400 block of West Princess Street, looking for someone to rob, when they spotted Edward Green sleeping in his car, York City Police have said.

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McCowin opened the front passenger door and started shooting at Green, who ran away while yelling for help, police said. McCowin fired a few more times at Green, then he and Bull jumped into Green's Toyota Camry and fled the scene, police said.

They drove the car to the rear of the 400 block of West College Avenue and torched its interior, according to police.

In his police confession, Bull told detectives he didn't think Green was going to be shot during the robbery.

Bull

Life sentence: A jury on Feb. 14 found McCowin, 24, of 250 S. Penn St., guilty of second-degree murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.

He appeared for sentencing Monday morning before Common Pleas Judge Richard K. Renn, who ordered McCowin spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Monday afternoon, Bull, who cooperated with prosecutors and identified McCowin as the triggerman at trial, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery for Green's death. Bull admitted Monday to acting as a lookout for McCowin, but said he didn't know Green was going to be shot.

"It didn't have to happen like that," Bull told Judge Renn.

Second shooting: Bull, 20, of 609 N. Hartley St., also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in an unrelated shooting. He shot Ronald Rhoades at Roosevelt Avenue and Lincoln Street in York City on Nov. 5, 2012. Bull told the judge they were arguing and Rhoades wouldn't "get out of my face."

Rhoades, who was 24 at the time, survived his wounds. He was shot in the back of the leg and suffered a minor gunshot wound to the back of his head, police said.

In exchange for his guilty pleas and cooperation, Bull's plea agreement calls for him to serve no more than 20 to 40 years in prison, chief deputy prosecutor David Maisch said. Renn set sentencing for April 30.

Maisch said he could not have gotten a conviction against McCowin without Bull's testimony.

Didn't die alone: Jacqueline Green said she's grateful her stepson was able to make it to his friend's home.

"Thank God he didn't die alone, and that he didn't die in the street," she said. "For that reason, I have peace in my heart."

Jacqueline Green recalled all the good times their family had over the years. Her husband worked two and three jobs at a time to support Edward Green and his sisters, she said, so the kids didn't get to see their dad all the time.

Saturday mornings, the kids would literally lean on and drape themselves over Leon Green while they all watched Philadelphia character Dr. Shock introduce horror movies on channel 17.

"Their dad was their resting cushion," she said. "That was their life, when Dad would have a day off."